The story in full

Reader reaction

When we broke the news yesterday that the jury had returned guilty verdicts, Jennifer Russell wrote on the Telegraph’s Facebook page: “Breaks my heart - how do those ‘people’ sleep at night!!”

14:16

Praise for Mr Brooks' loved ones

The CPS spokesman also said: “We hope that the verdict provides some comfort to his family who throughout the proceedings have shown great dignity.”

14:07

Weeks lied to police

Anjuli Shergill added that “on hearing the victim’s screams, concerned neighbours contacted the police” and when officers arrived “Weeks tried to cover up what he had done by lying to the police and Thorpe tried to run away”.

He says that both Weeks and Thorpe will “now have to deal with the consequences for their actions”.

CPS statement

Stephen Weeks and Drew Thorpe held a grudge against the victim and during the early hours of the morning on the date of the attack the two men had met and planned the murder.

The attack on this defenceless man was violent and sustained. The victim ended up with severe injuries to his head from which he would later die from.”

13:43

Statement from police?

The Telegraph has contacted West Midlands Police for reaction to today’s sentences and to ask for the mugshots of Mr Brooks’ killers.

13:33

Five things we learned:

1. The pair were sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison in total - Weeks given 16 years before parole and Thorpe 12 years.

2. Lee Brooks’ family were that distressed over the sentence to Thorpe that they burst in to court to make their thoughts known.

3. Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said that neighbours heard “distressing screams from the victim” which went on for “some considerable time, only to stop by reason of the arrival of police” on the day of the murder.

4. The judge also said that Weeks and Thorpe “were in it together for the same purpose”.

5. PC Alan Mackey - the officer who found Mr Brooks injured at the home in Hugh Road - was praised by the court for acting with great courage in trying to help Mr Brooks.

13:22

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“They must have the public’s condolences for what they have suffered"

Addressing the court for the final time, Mr Griffith-Jones said: “I am acutely aware of the terrible shock that it is when a loved one dies suddenly. When that happens in circumstances of this brutality it is all the more shocking. So also is it a terrible thing for a person to outlive their own child.

“It is made so much worse because the normal course where perhaps closure and consollation can be sought is thwarted by the necessary obstacles the court process puts in place.

“They must have the public’s condolences for what they have suffered.

“I hope they will be able to pass onto Lee Brooks’ children memories of him and his character which will be so important...that they will be able to have affection and pride in the person that gave them life that is no longer there.”

13:11

Jury thanked

Mr Griffith-Jones has given his thanks to the jury.

He has now added that he wants PC Mackeys’ superiors to know that they feel he acted with great courage in going upstairs and trying to help Mr Brooks. He said: “It simply demonstrated that his instinct was to be concerned for human life and to be courageous.”

13:10KEY EVENT

Family distressed over sentence

Mr Brooks’ family has entered the courtroom in a distressed state questioning whether a 12 year sentence was appropriate.

13:10KEY EVENT

Thorpe sentenced to 12 years

He is now addressing Thorpe, after outlining mitigating factors, such as his mental health, Mr Griffith-Jones said: “There is serious culpability here which you much face up to and cannot avoid. I am sure you knew you were being recruited for the purpose of a serious assault.

“I am sure that you were not subjected to the threats that you say you were subjected to in order to participate in this.

“This was a case of influence rather than threats.

“You were by the time you took the hammer to the bedroom an enthusiastic participant.

“You were in it together for the same purpose.

“By reason of your youth, the fragility of your mental health and its relevance to the situation...in your case the period before the consideration of parole will be 12 years.”

Thorpe has 12 years before parole.

12:09KEY EVENT

Stephen Weeks sentenced to 16 years in prison

The defendants have been asked to stand for sentencing.

Mr Griffith Jones has said:

“You have both been convicted of murder. There is only one sentence that I am able to pass which is a sentence of life imprisonment in your case Weeks and custody for life in your case Thorpe.

“However the time that you spend before consideration for release on parole is a matter that I have to give serious thought to and I have applied the considerations which Parliament has laid down in shecule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act.

“I am satisfied in your case Weeks that you held Lee Brooks in contempt. Your attitude to him was explified by the way you described him in June. You obviously consider however despite that contempt, that there was some advantage to you in having a relationship with him.

Never the less, by the early morning of the 26th of August, you had decided to launch an assault upon him which you intended to injure him very seriously. That intent at a later stage became an intent to kill, but the element of premeditation was applicable to a very serious and grave assault which you planned. As part of that plan, you decided to recruit a young man of 19, who you obviously knew and knew of his difficulties and also your capacity by reason of your relationship with him to influence him.

The determined efforts you made to get him from where he was in his bed are eloquent of your contemplation and determination of what was to happen.

Your recruitment of him and your influence over him is an aggravating feature, so also is the sustained brutality of the attack which you launched upon him, and by which time I am sure you had the intention to kill him. I am sure of that not only because of the sustained nature of the attack and the injuries being inflicted upon him, but also because of the weapsons you chose to do it.

At the time of the attack there were distressing screams from the victim which were heard by neighbours and which it was clear to me went on for some considerable time, only to stop by reason of the arrival of police.

That sustained savagery is a further aggravating feature in your case. Considering the matters that I have to in Schedule 21, I take a 15 year starting point, I’ve taken into account that you are not a man in good health, but having regard to the aggravating features.”

16 years for Weeks before eligible for parole.

12:04

'Prison life would be a struggle'

Now Mr Stein wants to ouline Thorpe’s future - according to his lawyer he will be in prison for a long time, and will continue to struggle with his mental health.

He will have to struggle trying to gain visitation rights to his daughter and to try and stay away from non-prescription drugs.

Mr Stein concluded that prison life would be a struggle.

12:03

'Suicidal thoughts'

A social worker’s report is now being outlined to the court, which describes social workers’ dealings with Thorpe since he was ten years old.

According to the report, after being released back into the community, he suffered suicidal thoughts and self-harmed. The report states there was a struggle to access adult health care services.

According to Mr Stein, Thorpe thought that by spending time with Weeks he would be learning valuable life skills for the future.

According to his lawyer, this was the first time he had an adult male figure in his life.

Mr Stein added that the social worker’s report says Thorpe makes impulsive decisions on the suggestion of other.

12:01KEY EVENT

'Deeply sorry'

Thorpe’s lawyer Samuel Stein will offer his mitigating and aggravating factor to the judge for consideration now.

He has outlined three areas of mitigation: his attitude to the offence itself, personal circumstances and the relationship of those circumstances to the event, and finally his future.

His attitude is “sorry” according to Mr Stein - “He is deeply sorry about what happened to Lee Brooks and his family”.

Thorpe was examined by a psychologist during the trial - a report has been given to the judge - Thorpe was known to psychiatric services from the age of 10 with a diagnosis of ADHD.

At age 17 he was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital from prison and diagnosed with a personality disorder.

Thorpe presents with “an unstable personality disorder within the accepted classification of mental health diseases” according to the report.

Mr Stein has outlined some of the disturbances Thorpe has suffered during their time together.

11:38

'Intention to kill'

Weeks’ lawyer has now stood to address the court.

Mr David Mason said: “No one will know truly what happened and what caused Mr Weeks to fall out with Mr Brooks.

“I cannot put forward any reason we know as to why it happened as your honour will recall Mr Weeks’ evidence.”

He added: “Were it not for my client getting Mr Thorpe out of bed at 5am, then Mr Thorpe wouldn’t be in the dock.”

He admitted that was an aggravating factor, but once there it became a joint enterprise as Thorpe took part in the attack.

Mr Griffith-Jones has asked Mr Mason on his view whether he could find intention in murder as he argued there was limited premeditation.

Mr Griffith-Jones said: “Whether there was a settled intention to kill some time before I am not sure about, but I am afraid the savagery of the attack and the implements used to administer it do make me minded to conclude that there was an intention to kill.”

Mr Mason has said he now wants to remind the court briefly of other matters, such as Weeks’ ill health.

He also added that Weeks has six grandchildren and it would be a “very long time” before he can see them properly again - including a newborn grandchild born during the proceedings.

11:28KEY EVENT

'There is only one sentence'

Mr Lloyd-Jones has now drawn the court’s attention to the defendants - Weeks, now 48, and Thorpe, 19.

Crimes committed by the pair previously are being summarised and discussed as to whether they could impact on the sentences handed out.

Mr Lloyd-Jones said “there is only one sentence,” this would be life for Weeks and custody for life for Thorpe due to his age.

Mr Lloyd-Jones is suggesting a starting point for years in custody. The crown submit that 15 years would be the safest starting point.

The crown are now outlining aggravating features - planning is being discussed.

The prosecution says that the planning ‘was not significant’, but also that it wasn’t entirely spontaneous.

Mr Lloyd-Jones has outlined an element of premeditation in relation to Weeks and the number of calls he made to Thorpe prior to the crime.

According to Mr Lloyd-Jones, it should also be considered that Mr Brooks had been asleep and unarmed before the attack.

Mr Griffith-Jones has interrupted and said: “Whether it was their aim to inflict pain on him, they did do that over a period of time when it was obvious that the screams were agonising, so whether it goes as far as sadistically intending to cause pain is a different matter.”

Mr Lloyd-Jones has also said ‘concealment of the body’ should be considered as an aggravating factor, in terms of trying to distract police when they first arrived at the house.

Mitigating factors are now being discussed by the prosecution.

11:17

Sentencing hearing about to begin

Today’s sentencing hearing is set to commence shortly. Members of the jury who wished to attend today have been brought into the courtroom. The defendants are also in the dock.

Mr Lloyd-Jones prosecuting is addressing the court about the effect Mr Brook’s murder has had on his family.

A victim impact statement written by his father Alan, who attended each day of the trial, will not be read out to the court. However some segments are being highlighted to the court.

The family knew Mr Brooks as “a loveable rogue, a free spirit, someone who loved the street“.

Despite his struggles and ‘chaotic lifestyle’, he was described as “someone whose heart was in the right place, someone who would also help others.”

He added: “He did not deserve to die and he did not deserve to die in the way that he did.”

The family have struggled to handle their grief with members of the family falling ill due to the stress of dealing with the loss.

Mr Lloyd-Jones added that they visit his grave daily to talk to him and his children have been unable to comprehend their loss and his three-year-old daughter digs at the ground of his grave trying to bring him back.